Button fastener



Feb. 26, 1952 J, HAYDEN 2,586,819

BUTTON FASTENER Filed Aug. 14, 1947 Faglz 7g .3 x 1 73%. 3

4 INVENTOR. JOJEPH r HA mew.

A 7' TORNEY.

Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUTTON FASTENERJoseph TfHayden, Philadelphia, Pa. *Applica'tion'Au'g'ust 14, 1947,Serial No. 768,634

6 Claims.

My invention relates to me'ans for fastening desired objects together.While my invention can be .used for fastening a number of :diiferentkinds orgroupings of desired objects there will be-more particularlydescribed hereinafter .my invention as applied to fastening a button toatgarment,

and;papers which are to be filed together.

It has been found in practice that virtually :all buttonscomprise a.minimum of two-button-holes which are spacedapart a standard distance.This is so regardless of the size of the button. Moreover, it :has beenthepractice to secure buttons to garments by means of sewing thread. Yetwhen the thread .is broken, worn or otherwise rendered unsecure, the:button comes off .the .garment and must be put away by the wearer untilsuch time as is convenient again tosew the button to the garment. In the:meantime, the wearer finds it necessary to use the garment without thebutton,.necessiating.an'unsightly appearance and 2 the additionalhandicap of having to use agarment in an open condition where the buttonshould have been.

Various attempts have been made in the-past to supply supplemental meansfor substituting a button for the one which belongs to the garment, Suchmeans have not generally been accepted, primarily because thesubstituted button'does not conform in appearance to the one which wasre-- placed; but secondarily because the mechanism used .to secure theauxiliary .buttonis large and. unwieldy, difficult and tedious inassembly and generally inflexible and unsightly.

It is an object of my invention therefore'to provide means wherebytheoriginal button belonging to the garment can be quickly, easily andeconomically secured to the garment itself, and in .a-manner to suggestthe original appearance of the button and. garment, and withsubstantially the original flexibility of connection of the button tothe garment.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for fastening abutton to a garment, which means would replace the original sewing ofthe button to the garment.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for securing abutton to the garment, which means are readily operated to detach thebutton from the garment, when desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for fastening abutton to .a garment, which means are of such small bulk and of suchcharacter as to render their presence virtually unnoticeable and safefrom unpleasant contact with the body of the wearer.

'A still further objedt 'of my'inve'ntion is to pro-- vides.fastening-means which is flekiblein use,

economic and easy "to manufacture, and-certain in operation. i V

Another ob'jectofmy invention is -to provide a fastening means which "mareadily be'used to secure penetrable objects one to another.

With the above and-other objectsih view my invention consists of afastener comprising a re- 11 taining means; an arm connected with saidr'eprising an arm portion; a sleeve portion; and

releasable retaining meansadapted alternately to permit said armfiportion-tobeinserted within said sleeve, toholdsa'id arm portion'withinsaidsleeve. and to release said arm portion when desired.

My invention further consists of a fast'ener comprising a retainingmeans; an interlocking means connected with said-retainin'g'means; andmeans for releasably securing said interlocking means.

My invention also consists of the means, mecha'-- nisms andarrangementsof parts-as herein shown and described.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred byme, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to'be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can bevariously'arrangedandorganized and that my invention is not limited tothe precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

With reference now to the drawings in which like reference charactersindicate like parts:

Figure -1 represents an extended, perspective View of 'a pin andretaining member comprising my invention.

Figure 2 represents a sectional view taken generally along lines 2'-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 represents a side elevational view of a pin'comprising myinvention.

Figure 4 represents a front elevational view of a pin comprising myinvention.

Figure 5 represents a plan view of a blank which may be used in"constructing a retaining membercomprising my invention.

Figure 6 represents a plan view of a button fastened in accordance withmy invention.

Figure '7 represents aside 'elevational view or" a button fastened in amanner comprising my invention.

Figure 8 represents an extended perspective view of a pin and retainingmember of modified construction embodying my invention.

Figure 9 represents a sectional view taken generally along lines 9-9 ofFigure 8.

Figure 10 represents a plan view of a blank which may be used in formingthe retaining member illustrated in Figure 8, embodying my invention.

Figure 11 represents a side elevational view, partly in section, of onestage of apin being inserted in a retaining member of a fastener,embodying my invention.

Figure 12 represents a side elevational view. partly in section, of afurther stage of a pin being inserted in a retaining member of afastener, embodying my invention.

Figure 13 represents a side elevational view, partly in section of afastener embodying my invention, with the pin completely inserted in theretaining member and locked therein.

Figure 14 represents a side elevational view, partly in section, of afastener embodying my invention, with the locking mechanism in releasecondition operably to allow the pin to be withdrawn from the receptacle.

Figure 15 represents a perspective view of one step in assembling abutton with a garment by means of a fastener embodying my invention.

Figure 16 represents an extended elevational view of a next step inasembling a button with a garment by means of a fastener embodying myinvention.

Figure 17 represents an elevational view of a further step in assemblinga button and garment by means of a fastener embodying my invention.

Figure 18 represents an elevational view of the next step in assemblingthe button and garment by means of a fastener embodying my inven- .tion.

Figure 19 represents an elevational view of a button and garmentcompletely assembled by means of a fastener embodying my invention.

Figure 20 represents an extended perspective .view of a button with afastener of another modified construction embodying my invention.

Figure 21 represents an elevational sectional view of a fastenerembodying my invention as .used in fastening a sheaf of papers.

. According to my invention, I provide a retainin means which may be apin member comprising a retaining portion such as a bight 3| andpreferably parallel locking fingers or prongs 32 and 33 projectingperpendicularly in one direction from preferably substantially parallellower arms or 'posts 34 and 35 of the bight 3|.

I also provide a retaining or locking member 36, perferably formed outof a sheet metal blank 3? substantially as illustrated more fully inFigure 5. Substantially centrally disposed in the blank 31 is a bed 38.For purposes of description only, I shall describe the bed 38 as lyinghorizontal, although it is to be understood that it operates equallywell in all positions. A tongue 33 projects from one end of the bed 38and is bent upwardly generally along the axis 40, and rearwardlygenerally along the axis 4| to form a retaining plate 42. The outer edge43 of the tongue 38 is rabbeted as at 44. Preferably projecting from theopposite end of the bed 38, I provide a tongue 45 which is curvedupwardly and forwardly at the base 46 thereof to form a sprin latch 4'1.For purposes of increasing the flexibility of the latch 47, I may reducethe width of the tongue 45 at the base 46 thereof, as illustrated inFigure 5. However, it should be understood that this is merely onepreferred form, and my invention is not to be limited to any aspect ofsuch narrowing of the Width. Side members 48 and 49 project laterallyfrom the sides of the bed 38, intermediate the tongues 39 and 45, andare bent upwardly along the axes 50 and 5|.

There is thus formed a receptacle comprising a base 38, side walls 48and 49, front wall intermediate the folds 40 and 4|, a top plate 42, anda spring latch 41. The leading edge 52 of the spring latch 41 cooperateswith the side walls 48 and 49 and the rabbeted edges 44 to provide ports53 for the reception of the prongs 32 and 33. The plate 42 is spacedfrom the bed 38 a distance substantially equal to the diameter of theprongs 32, 33, thereby to form therebetween a retaining sleeve portion58.

As may more readily be seen by reference to Figure 2, the spring latch47 is preferably normally inclined upwardly and forwardly, and thevertical plane of the leading edge 52 thereof is spaced from thevertical plane of the rabbeted edge 44 a distance substantially equal tothe diameter of the prongs 32, 33.

In Figures 8 to 14, inclusive, I have shown a modified constructionembodying my invention. In this construction, the same pin 36 is used asthat shown in Figure 1. The receptacle however, is preferably formed ofa blank 54 having a bed 55 of substantially the same size as the bed 35.Side members 56 and 5'! project laterally from the forward portion ofthe bed 55 and are of a length equal 'to or preferably slightly greaterthan the length of the prongs 32, 33, and of a width more than half thewidth of the bed 55. These side members 56 and 5'! are bent upwardly andinwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the bed 55, and thelongitudinal edges 58 and 59 re spectively of the side members 55 and 51join and preferably lie on the plane of the bed 55 along Said axis. Bythis construction, there is formed be' tween each of the side members 56and 51 and the bed 55, a separate sleeve respectively indicated as 60and 6|, adapted to receive and retain respectively the prongs 32 and 33of the pin 30.

A tongue 62 projects from the rearward end of the bed 55 and is curvedupwardly and forwardly substantially in the same manner as the tongue 45of the receptacle @8, operably to form a spring latch 63 having aleading edge 63. A lug is preferably formed on the spring latch 63, andprojects laterally from the leading edge portion 64 thereof.

Rearward side members 58 and 61 extend laterally from the sides of thebed 55 intermediate the side members 53, 51 and the tongue 62. Theseside members 65 and 67 are preferably of a 'much narrower width than theforward side members 56, 51. Moreover, the forward edges 58 and 69respectively of the side members 55 and 61 are preferably inclinedforwardly and toward the bed 55,-and are spaced from the rearward edges10 of the forward side members 56 and 51. The'rearward side members 66and 3'1 are bent upwardly and inwardly, preferably along a curve,operably to form limiting stops for outward displacement of the springlatch 63. In this way, ordinary sheet metal or other sheet material ofrelatively lowelasticity may be used for the blank 54, and the springlatch 63 maintained against displacement beyond its low elastic limit bythe -of theretaining sleeves 66 and 6| a distance sub- :stantially equalto the diameter of the prongs 32,, 33of "the pin 36.; and .thelugfitprojectsr'outwardly from the retaining member it through thecham nelformed between the forward edge :69 of the- ;zside member-36.1 andsaidrearward edge :7 6. ,There .is thus provided :a port intermediate thespring latch .63 and the retaining sleeves 6B and 6|, through which theprongs 3.2 and 33 may pass in order to :entersaid sleeves-66,;6 I

In Figures 11 to 14, inclusive, is illustrated the operation of thefastener of my invention, with particular reference to the operationofthe modified construction thereof illustrated in Figures '8 to 10,inclusive; but its applicability to the construction illustrated inFigures 1 to 5,, inclusive, embodying my invention, with suitableallowance being made for the slight variants in construction, isobvious.

Thus, the prongs .32 and 33 of the pin were in serted through the objector objects to be tfastened. In the-case of fastening a button to a gar-.ment, the prongs 32 and 33 are passed through two of the button-holes,l2 and "it, until the sides of the bight 3| rest against theoutside face14 of the button 15, as may more readily be seen by reference to Figures15 and 16. The button is then placed in proper position over the garmentl6, and the button with the prongs 3-2 and 33 projecting from itsunderface, is urged toward the garment until the prongs 32 and 33penetrate the fabric thereof and emerge on the underside of the garmentfabric, as may be seenmere clearly by reference to Figure 17. Or, ifdesired, the button 15 may first be placed in proper position on thegarment 1'6, and the prongs then urged through both the button holes andthe garment until the sides of the bight 3| rest against the outsideface '14 of the button 15.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 14 inclusive, the next subsequent stagesmay readily be seen. Thus, the retaining member H or 36 is brought intojuxtaposition to the pin member 3| .on the underside of the garment,with the prongs 32 and 33 in registry with the ends of the sleeves 66and 6| opening on the port l of the retainingmem'ber H; or in the caseof the .rei taining member 36, with the port 53 thereof. The pin member3|) is then tilted so that the posts 34 and 35 of the bight 3| arepartially passed through the button-holes 12 and T3, as may be seen moreclearly in Figure 18. In so doing, the prongs 32 and 33 are inclinedtoward the front of the retaining sleeves, 68 and 6| or in the case ofthe retaining member 36 the 'retaining sleeve 58, as may be seen inFigures ii and 18. The prongs 32 and 33 are then urged 52 of 131. 6spring latch 47), is uncovered by the 6 rearward edge 11.8 of the rbight3| as the prongs '32 and33 are :urged forwardly into the respectiveretaining qsleeves 6.0 and 6] .(or retaining sleeve 58). This may:clearly be seen inFigure .12.

When the leading edge 64 of the .spring latch .63 (or the leading edge52 of the spring latch 4.1)., is thus :completely uncovered, the springlatch springs upwardly until the leading edge rests preferably :abovethe upper sides of the sleeves 6|], 6|,or in the case of the retainingmember 36, above the plane of the plate 42- .and substantially againstthe rearward edge '38 of the bight 3|.

In this position, the pin 30 is completely locked within the retainingmember H (or the retaining member 36 if that is the one used), as mayreadily beseen by an analysis of the parts. Thus, in the case of theretaining member "1|, the prongs 32 and 33 :are locked against lateraldisplacement by the walls of the sleeves 6i) and 6|; and the pin 36 islocked against forward or rearward displacement by the sleeve edges l6bearing against the forward edges 19 of the bight 3|, and the leadingedge 64 of the spring latch 63, bearing against the rearward edge it orsaid bight 3|. In the event that the retaining member 36 is used, theprongs .32 and .33 .are locked against sideward displacement by the sidewalls 48 and 49 of the retaining .member 36, and against verticaldisplacement by the retaining plate 42 and the bed 38; and the pin 36 islocked against forward or rearward displacement by the transverse edgesof the ports 53, and the leading edge 52 of the spring latch 41. It isto be understood of course, that the specific locking means herein shownand described are merely illustrative, and the invention is not to belimited to the specific details thereof, for other specific means may beused without departing from the spirit or essential attributes of theinvention.

When it is desired to release the pin and the objects held thereby, fromthe retaining means H, it is merely necessary to depress the springlatch 63 until it rests beneath the curved edge intermediate the bight3| and the prongs 32 and 33. To assist in depressing the spring latch63, the lug 65 may be used. Thus, the thumbnail can readily be insertedbetween the upward edge of the lug 65 and the garment l6 and pulleddownwardly, carrying with it the spring latch 63. The pin may then bewithdrawn by using the bight 3| as a handle to urge the prongs 32 and 33out of their respective retaining sleeves 66 and 6| and over the leadingedge 64 of the spring latch 63. In the case of the retaining means '36,the spring latch 41 is depressed until the leading edge 52 -thereof isbeneath the curve 86, and the pin 30 is withdrawn in the same manner butof the retaining sleeve 53 and over the 'leading'edge 52 of the springlatch 41. Thus either of the retaining means H or 36 may readilybe"withdrawn'and the pin 36 tilted as shown in Figures 11 and 18, andremoved from the garment.

Another modified construction embodying my invention is illustrated inFigure 20. Here, a pin is provided with a single prong 86.Perpendicularly projecting from one end of said prong 86 is a hook 81connected to the prong 86 by means of a post 88.

A retaining means 89 is preferably formed of a sheet metal tube having aport 96, of a diameter equal "-to or slightly greater than the diameterof the pron'g 86, formed through its side. The

side of the tube 89, opposite to the port 90, is depressed as at 9| toform an inside ridge or limiting stop. A coil compression spring 92 isdisposed behind said limiting stop within the tube 89. The rearward end93 of the tube 89 is closed, as by pinching, operatively to anchor thecoil spring 92 and to impose a degree of compression thereon. Theforward end 94 of the tube 89 is preferably likewise closed in order toprotect the inside of the tube from dirt or corrosion.

In operation, the hook 81 is threaded through the button-holes l2 and 13of the button 15, and the prong 8B is inserted through the garment atthe location where it is desired to fasten the button 15. The prong 86is then passed through the port 90 and into the forward interior portion95 of the tube 89. In so doing, the coil spring 92 is cammed by therearward edge 95 of the pin 85 into further compression. Thisconstruction yieldingly resists unwanted extraction of the pin 85 fromthe retaining means 89.

In Figure 21 is represented by invention as used in fastening materialsother than buttons or garments. In this view is illustrated the use ofmy invention for fastening together a sheaf of papers 91. This mayeither be done by using papers through which a suitable hole has beenpunched, and threading the prongs 32 and 33 therethrough, or the prongsthemselves may be forced through the papers until the posts 35, and 35of the bight 3| extend through the sheaf 97. and the prongs 32 and 33project therebeneath. In this operation, the prongs 32 and 33 are passedinto the retaining member 36 or H, as the case may be, in substantiallythe same manner as hereinabove described, and the sheaf of papers 91 islocked together. For unfastening the sheaf, it is merely necessary todepress the spring latch of the retaining means and withdraw the pin 30.It is to be understood, of course, that in this use of my invention thefastening means is not limited in size to that of the fastening meansintended to be employed with a button. Indeed, my invention is not to belimited either in size or in use, for the fastener of my invention isequally adaptable for fastening numerous kinds of objects together, andthe description of the adaptability of my invention for fastening abutton and garment, as well as the sheaf of papers, is purelyillustrative, and in no sense a limitation of my invention.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied on other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiments to be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toobtain by'Letters Patent, is:

l. A fastener comprising a retaining portion, a locking finger extendingfrom said retaining portion; a retaining member; said retaining membercomprising means to receive said look-- ing finger, and a leaf-springlatch adapted to limit displacement of said locking finger from saidretaining member; and means to prevent displacement of said leaf springlatch beyond the elastic limit thereof, and to confine movement of saidlatch substantially t6 a locus which intercepts a path traversed by saidlocking finger during the insertion of said locking finger into saidretaining member.

2. A fastener comprising a retaining portion, a locking finger extendingfrom said retaining portion; a retaining member; said retaining membercomprising means to receive said looking finger, and a leaf spring latchadapted to limit displacement of said locking finger from said retainingmember; means to prevent displacement of said leaf spring latch beyondthe elastic limit thereof, and to confine movement of said latchsubstantially to a locus which intercepts a path traversed by saidlocking finger during the insertion of said locking finger into saidretaining member; and means operable to release said latch fromdisplacement-limiting relation to said locking finger.

3. A fastener comprising a pre-iormed retaining means comprising a hook,a post and a looking finger; and a retaining member formed of sheetmaterial; said retaining member being folded to form a sleeve portionand a latch portion; said sleeve portion being adapted to receive saidlocking finger, and said latch portion being adapted to retain saidlocking finger within said sleeve portion; a limiting stop to preventdisplacement of said latch beyond its elastic limit, and to confinemovement of said latch substantially to a locus which intercepts a pathtraversed by said locking finger during the insertion of said lockingfinger into said retaining member; and means operable to release saidlatch from retaining condition.

4. In combination, means for fastening a button to a garment, comprisinga pin and a retaining member; said pin comprising a bight, postsextending from said bight and substantially coplanar therewith saidposts being spaced a dis-- stance substantially equal to the distancebetween button holes in the button to be fastened, and parallel,coplanar prongs projecting from said posts in one direction, andsubstantially perpendicular to said posts, each of said parallel,coplanar prongs terminating in a point; said retaining member comprisinga sleeve adapted to receive at least one of said prongs, and a latchadapted to retain said prong within said sleeve.

5. In combination, means for fastening a button to a garment, comprisinga button-retaining portion, a prong connected with said buttonretainingportion and a locking member; said locking member comprising a sheetmaterial formed into a sleeve portion comprising an entrance port, and aspring latch having a leading edge portion in proximity to said entranceport, and operable to be depressed when said prong is being insertedwithin said sleeve, and to be released into operative condition whensaid prong is fully inserted within said sleeve, thereby to retain saidprong within said sleeve; and means to confine movement of said latchsubstantially to a locus which intercepts a path traversed by said prongduring the insertion of said prong in said sleeve.

to be released into operative condition when said prong is fullyinserted within said sleeve, thereby to retain said prong within saidsleeve; and means to prevent displacement of said spring latch beyondits elastic limited; and means to confine movement of said latchsubstantially to a locus which intercepts a path traversed by said prongduring the insertion of said prong in said sleeve.

JOSEPH T. HAYDEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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